One and a half century ago, Alfred Russel Wallace recorded as many as 250 species inhibited Bantimurung National Park in South Sulawesi. For that reason he named the area as butterflies kingdom. An updated research conducted by Prof Dr Sila Mappatoba, Msc, in 2005 showed that the species number of butterflies in the 43.750 ha park has declined to 125. Sadly, the latest data, in fact, mentioned that there are only 108 species left. Some of the species that can be found there are Graphium sarpedon, Idea blanchardi, Papilio memnon, Troides helena, Papilio blumei, and Caligo sp.



In Indonesian language, Bantimurung means "getting rid of sadness". Bantimurung is located on north of Makassar. The Bantimurung waterfalls are set amid lushly vegetated limestone cliffs. Bantimurung is crowded with Indonesians on weekends and holidays, and at other times it's a wonderful retreat from the congestion of Ujung Pandang (now Makassar), the capital of South Sulawesi. The best time to see living butterflies is when the sun appears after a rain shower.

But Bantimurung, it's not only about beautiful butterflies. Bantimurung is also famous with it's waterfall and caves. The waterfall is located at the valley of the steep limestone hill with its fertile tropical vegetation. Before entering the waterfall location, visitors can see a statue of a kind of monkey (lutung), about 6 cm tall. This kind of animal can only be found in Sulawesi and Kalimantan.

Bantimurung waterfall
image: Mongabay



The blue pool
image: Truly Indonesia



Bantimurung cave

image: Truly Indonesia

Lake Tempe is located in Sengkang, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Sengkang, the capital town of Wajo Regency is well-known as the center of Bugis silk industry, 240 kms to the northeast of Makassar. In Soppeng a spinning mill produces thread from silk worms. Weaving can be seen in many private homes along this route. The finest silk is handloomed by village women, each of whom can produce two metres of silk a month. Visitors are welcome to stop and watch, or make a purchase if there is any readily available.

Nearby Lake Tempe, is a tourist resort where you can enjoy boating.
In the middle of this lake, you can see hundreds of villagers floating houses

Every August 23rd, Festival Danau Tempe or Lake Tempe Festival is held. This fisherman's ritual feast called Maccera Tappareng or lake purify ceremony. It's started by cutting cattle, led by the head of the fishermen. On the day of the Festival Danau Tempe, all participants in the ceremony Maccera Tappareng dressed in Baju Bodo (traditional Buginese dress).

image: flaminggo dance

There are also various attractions, such as the traditional boat race, boat race tub, kites contest, the Anak Dara and Kalollo election (miss and mister Wajo), Mortar gong contest (padendang), traditional music and dance played by Bissu Waria, and many other.

The road from Makassar or Ujung Pandang to Tana Toraja (Toraja Land) runs along the coast for about 130 km's and then hits the mountains. After the entrance to Tana Toraja you enter a majestic landscape with giant gray, granites and stones and blue mountains at a distance after passing the market village of Mebali. They form a sharp contrast with the lively green of the fertile, rain-fed terraces and the rusty read of the tropical laterite soil. This is Tana Toraja, one of the most splendid areas in Indonesia.

The Entrance Gate of Mebali

Tana Toraja has a specific and unique funeral ceremony which is called Rambu Solo. In Tana Toraja, dead body is not buried, but it is put in Tongkonan for several times, even can be more than ten years until the family have enough money to held the ceremony. After ceremony, the dead body is brought to the cave or to the wall of the mountain. The skulls show us that the dead body is not buried but just put on stone or ground, or put in the hole.The funeral festival season begins when the last rice has been harvested, usually in late June or July, and lasts through to September.

photo of the dead

The funeral ceremony sacrifice buffalos

a pig shapped coffin

Skulls outside a cave

One of Tana Toraja's cliff grave

How to Get There:


By Air
Directly from Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport, Makassar, proceed to Tana Toraja (twice a week on tuesday and friday) through the airport of Rantetayo, near Makle, 24 km south of Rantepao and there is a bus service to town.


By Land
Buses to Rantepao from Makassar leave daily from Makassar. The journey takes 8 hours and includes a meal stop. Tickets should be bought in town but coaches actually leave from Daya Bus Terminal, 20 minutes out of town by bemo. Coaches typically leave in the morning ( 7 am ), noon ( 1 pm ) and at night ( 7 pm).

Several companies in Rantepao run buses back to Makassar with the departure time and prices. The number of buses each day depends on the number of passengers.

Tourist who wants to stay in the heart of the city has many choices since there is lot of hotels and villas available. Or if you had an adventurous soul, you can sleep in villages on the way.

Bemo is the best way to get to know the locals, besides chartered vehicles (minibuses and Jeeps) with or without driver. While you are in the village you can take a walk to move around.

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Things You Can't Miss:

• Exploring the market; You should not to be missed going to the traditional market. Here you can get the top end of Toraja coffee beans [like Robusta and Arabica]. And several local veggies, fruits Tamarella or Terong Belanda and gold fish [ikan mas].

• Visit Batu Tumonga Plateu; It means stone that facing to the sky. From here can be seen many volcanic stones comes up in between padi fields. And, several giant stones became cave graveyard. The views is pretty awesome. The huge of Tana Toraja [Toraja land] looks so lush and greenery. Like a patchwork in gradation hue of green color.

• Palawa is an excellent village to visit a Tongkonan, or a burial place still swarming with celebrations and festivals.

• Take a side trip from Rantepao to Kete, a traditional village with excellent handicraft shops. Behind the village on a hillside is a grave site with lifesize statues guarding over old coffins called Tau-Tau.

• Most of the times, you can't eat at these locations; however more warung and restaurants appear along the road. You can also bring your own foods and drinks.

• There is some souvenirs shop where you can buy everything specific from Tana Toraja. There are clothes, bags, wallets and other handicrafts.

• Visitor are expected to adhere to local dress customs and to bring a token present, such as cigarettes or coffee whenever entered Tongkonan.

• As roads are not always paved, it is necessary to use a jeep or walk, even when the weather is good (between May and October).

• Beware with your head whenever going inside to Tongkonan, The Torajan traditional house.

• Enrekang, Makale and Toraja Higland are surrounded by astonishing volcanic rocky cliffs. Do not miss it , just stop and take picture for awhile and you will not regret.

.: referencee. with proper addition :.
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